CZ351598A3 - Process and apparatus for cleaning and/or inserting wire into wiring tube - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly (1) for air-assisted insertion of a draw line (6a) inside and along a conduit (2) from an entry end of said conduit to an exit end; the assembly comprising a source of pressurised air (8); an apparatus (4) for sealing an end (16) of said conduit (2) through or about said sealing apparatus (4), a through passage in or in said sealing apparatus which receives a draw line (6a) such that when said sealing apparatus (4) engages the entry end (16) of said conduit, the draw line is capable of entering the apparatus (4) inside the conduit, a shuttle (6, 23) connected to a leading end of the draw line (6a) responsive to delivery of air from said pressurise air source (8) and which urges the draw line (6a) along the conduit (2) until it exits the conduit (2) via said exit end.

Description

The invention relates to a method and apparatus capable of cleaning the inside of the conduit and / or inserting the draw wire over the entire length of the conduit and also relates to a suitable and efficient method of sealing the end of the conduit to facilitate said insertion of the draw wire. pipe by means of an air-powered shuttle attached to this end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Telecom cables are currently routed underground, in specially designed notches. In order to protect cables from potential damage by water, debris and pests, communication cables are most commonly laid in plastic pipes (usually PVC). There are already many thousands of kilometers of such cables that are buried in pipes underground, but because of the rapid development of telecommunications and hence the need for more cables, hundreds of thousands of kilometers of cables will be needed in the future.

Typically, there are three categories of conduit pipes, namely, pipes that are laid empty as a reserve ready to accommodate new cables, pipes that are already partially filled, and pipes that are completely filled with cables. The invention essentially relates to the first and second categories. The method of inserting the cables into the pipes is time-consuming, laborious and therefore expensive. Existing methods for inserting broach wires into cables are slow, inconvenient and ineffective.

To pass the cable through the pipe, it is first necessary to insert the pull wire into the pipe, which is then anchored to the insertion end of the cable so that it can be pulled through

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to the end of the pipe length. The extension wires can be inserted and simply left in the tube, ready for later insertion of the cable. This assists the installer, since in this case the draw wire is already placed in the pipe prior to the cable assembly, allowing easy attachment of the draw wire to the lead-in end of the cable, which is then carried by the pipe through the draw wire. According to a known method of inserting a drawing wire into a pipe, a parachute is used to which the drawing wire is attached. The parachute is inserted into the mouth of the pipe. The parachute is then supplied with compressed air, which expands the parachute, passes through the tube and entrains the drawing wire. In order to maintain the required positive air pressure, the pipe mouth must be sealed to prevent air leakage. This is currently done in a coarse way by inserting a rag or the like into the mouth of the pipe, which must be held manually in position while positive pressure is applied to the pipe. Positive pressure is supplied to the pipe by a copper pipe connected to a source of compressed air. The copper tube is wrapped with rags or other gaskets. The draw wire must be free enough to pass through or around the seal. The result is a compromise in the integrity of the seal, which results in a loss of pressure in the pipe at its mouth. Pipe sealing has been a major problem for operators in the past and continues to pose a problem, especially when the pipe is filled with water and debris caused by the return air flow. When the pipe is pressurized and is not effectively sealed, the pressure can act on water and debris that are outside of the pipe mouth. Sealing the pipe is particularly difficult when the pipe is partially filled with cables. Another problem with this method is the unwanted collapsing or crumpling of the parachute. The currently used staples consist essentially of a layer of textile or the like to which they are attached at the circumferentially arranged points of the end of the string line, the other ends of which are connected at the location where the insertion end of the wire.

The parachute tends to collapse inside the pipe, especially if the air is arranged in the parachute asymmetrically, allowing some air to flow around one edge compared to a symmetrical bypass and correct

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-3 Balanced flow in normal operation. This misalignment will cause the parachute to rotate and entangle the strings, which in this case can trap the parachute textile material with air. That is, the entangled parachute must be pulled out of the tube, and the method must be repeated, increasing the time and labor involved in inserting the drawing wire.

A solution to this problem is the subject of a co-pending application filed by the same applicant. There are other problems when using the prior art arrangement, for example, the wire of the drawing wire can catch the user's hand, the copper tube must be held in place by the operator, the sealing rags and sponges can be blown away. In addition, two workers are usually needed in the notch for the pipe, one of which introduces the draw wire and the other holds the copper air supply tube and seal in place.

In another known prior art method, push rods may be pushed from one end of the conduit until they reach the mean value of the pipe length, whereupon the pipe is cut and joined, thereby creating another joint and hence an additional point where undesirable penetration may later water. Push rods can slide from one end up to a distance of 100 m. Combination of push rods is inconvenient and can result in damage to the cables inside the pipe, especially when the rod engages in a "V" mouth, depending on the cross-section of the cables in the pipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method and apparatus that is capable of cleaning the inside of the conduit, and which also provides for trouble-free insertion of the draw wire into the conduit, where the conduit allows the carrying of cables such as communication cables. The invention also relates to an efficient method of sealing the end of an installation pipe, whether it is filled or empty, to facilitate insertion of the draw wire into the pipe. The device includes an air-powered shuttle that carries a draw wire «« • «

-4 pipe, in response to positive air pressure. This shuttle is the subject of a co-pending application filed by the same applicant.

With respect to the device according to the invention for cleaning and / or inserting a drawing wire into the pipe, the device comprises an apparatus which seals one end of the pipe into which the drawing wire is to be placed and which facilitates the feeding of the leading end of the drawing wire through the pipe after supplying compressed air into the pipe. the pipe between the apparatus and the shuttle in response to compressed air, so that the shuttle is driven along the entire length of the pipe until it comes out of the pipe, carrying the draw wire with it. In the widest possible arrangement of the device, there is provided a device for inserting the drawing wire in and over the entire length of the pipe from its inlet to its outlet end by means of compressed air, according to the invention. sealing said pipe, with the possibility of supplying compressed air from the source of compressed air to the pipe by or around said sealing device, from a through hole in or on the sealing device to accommodate the drawing wire, wherein when the sealing device engages the inlet end of the pipe introduction into the sealing device outside or inside the pipe and the outlet of the device inside the summer pipe, from the shuttle connected to the insertion end of the chisel in response to the air supply from the compressed source The tube is arranged with the possibility of carrying the drawing wire along the entire length of the pipe up to the shed from the outlet end of the pipe.

In particular, the compressed air source is directly or indirectly connected to the sealing apparatus and the apparatus comprises a manifold comprising means for connecting at least one supply air duct connected to the compressed air source and manifold, the sealing apparatus comprising an inflatable air jacket arranged in response to the compressed air. air, with the possibility of expansion by this air pressure to seal one end of said pipe.

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In particular, the air jacket is arranged at the insertion end of the sealing device, around the elongate tubular body forming the membrane, the membrane being fixed to both ends of the tubular body and concentrically arranged around it, wherein a cavity containing compressed air is formed between the interior of the membrane and the tubular body. , which causes the membrane to expand and come into contact with the inner surface of the tube, with the possibility of expanding against the inner wall of said tube to effect a sealing connection between the sheath and the tube.

In particular, the manifold is provided with at least one air inlet, one air outlet and a control valve.

In the widest possible configuration of the method, a method of inserting a drawing wire into a pipe according to the invention is provided, which is

a) insert the free end of the wire through the through hole into a sealing device arranged to seal one end of the pipe,

b) the free end of the wire is attached to the shuttle and the shuttle is inserted into the inlet end of the pipe,

c) further sealing the inlet end of the pipe with a sealing device,

d) the compressed air is then introduced around the sealing device into the pipe, behind the sealing device and in front of the shuttle;

(e) finally, sufficient air pressure is applied to move the shuttle along the entire length of the tube until it is ejected from the tube, carrying the pull wire.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the draw wire is further rolled back to remove any slack in the draw wire between the sealing device and the shuttle.

According to another embodiment of the method according to the invention, using a device for inserting an extension wire inside and along the entire length of a pipe from its inlet end to its outlet end, by means of compressed air consisting of a pressurized air source, a sealing device for sealing said pipe. compressed air from a source of compressed air into a pipe by or around said sealing device, from a through opening

-6v or on a sealing device for holding a broaching wire, wherein, when the sealing device is engaged with the inlet end of the pipe, the broaching wire is arranged with the possibility of being introduced into the sealing device outside or inside the pipe and a wire in response to an air supply from a source of compressed air, arranged with the possibility of driving a drawing wire along the entire length of the pipe up to the outlet of the outlet end of the pipe, according to the invention,

a) insert the free end of the wire through the through hole into a sealing device arranged to seal one end of the pipe,

b) the free end of the pull wire is attached to the shuttle and the shuttle is inserted into the inlet end of the tube,

c) further sealing the inlet end of the pipe with a sealing device,

d) further pressurized air is introduced around the sealing device into the pipe, behind the sealing device and in front of the shuttle,

(e) further inflating the air jacket of the sealing device so that the casing enters the horse of the act with the inner surface of the pipe and seals the pipe; and

f) Finally, sufficient air pressure is applied to move the shuttle along the entire length of the tube until it is ejected from the tube, carrying the pull wire.

In particular, the method of the invention further adjusts the control valve after the shuttle has been removed from the tube to release the sealing device from the tube.

In particular, the sealing device comprises a manifold which controls the supply of air to the pipe and to the sealing device connected to the insertion end of the manifold.

In another exemplary embodiment, the invention is comprised of a device for cleaning the interior of a pipe, using a cleaning element such as a pellet, according to the invention, which consists of a sealing device for sealing one end of a pipe and configured to supply compressed air to said pipe. to push the pellet through the pipe, while pushing the water and / or debris ahead.

Overview of the drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which: FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a device for inserting a drawing wire according to an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention; which controls the air supply both to the inside of the pipe and to the sealing device according to an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 shows a sealing device according to an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the device 1 for introducing broaching wire into the installation pipe 2. The device 1 can also be used to remove water and / or debris from inside the pipe 2. However, the device 1 will be essentially described with respect to its insertion application. The device X comprises a distributor piece 3 comprising a sealing device 4, a source of compressed air 8, a shuttle 6 and a drawing wire 6a. In particular, the sealing device 4 is detachably attached to the splitting piece 3, so that sealing devices of different sizes can be replaced, depending on the size of the pipe to be sealed. FIG. 1 shows a sealing device 4 inserted into a tube 2 with a wire 6a drawn through the tube 2, connected by its insertion end 6b to the shuttle 6

According to FIG. 2, the manifold 3 consists of a body 3a, at one end of which is a station 5 provided with a coupling 5a connected to an air supply line 7 (see FIG. 1), which in turn is connected to a compressed air source 8, be, for example, a conventional air compressor. At the same end or near the same end of the body 3a is also provided a station 9 provided with a coupling 10 connected

8 with an air supply line 11 (see FIG. 1), which is also connected directly or indirectly to the air compressor.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, compressed air is supplied via air duct 11 to station 17 to the sealing device 4. The air supply to the sealing device 4 is controlled by a valve 12 which is manually operated by the operator to supply air to the space 13 (see also FIG. 3). formed by an air jacket within the resilient diaphragm 14 which expands radially until it comes into contact by friction with the inner surface 15 of the pipe 2. The sealing device 4 acts as a plug for sealing the end 16 of the pipe 2 and is detachably attached to the manifold body 3a by The sealing device 4 is selected according to the size of the sponge into which the drawing wire 6a is to be introduced. and therefore a range of sizes is considered.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a typical sealing device 4. The sealing device 4 is typically a tubular portion comprising an air jacket formed by a flexible membrane 14 surrounding the inner tube 18. thereby forming a cavity or space 13 between the membrane 14 and the inner tube 18. In particular, it is made of a rubberized material, and is anchored at both ends by clamps 19 and 20. The clamping of both ends of the diaphragm ensures an airtight seal of the cavity or space 13. The diaphragm 14 has sufficient flexibility to allow its radial displacement in response to compression As a result, the pipe end 16 is sealed so that the compressed air supplied to the spout 2 can escape only the opposite end of the pipe, according to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. .

The air introduced into the space 13 is supplied from the air duct II by means of a valve 12, and further flows through the narrow openings 21 and 22 into the space 13, thereby inflating the sheath formed by the flexible membrane 14 to the desired pressure. The operator selects the desired pressure according to the desired seal, taking into account the size of the sealing device diameter, the radial distance of the membrane 14 having to be varied to effect the seal against the inner surface 15

2. Typical air pressure that can be used to perform an adequate seal is in the range of 172 kPa to 1034 kPa (25 to 150 psi). The pressure can be monitored by a pressure gauge 23. Once the desired pressure is present in the space 13, a valve 12 must be set to retain compressed air to maintain the friction connection between the diaphragm 14 and the inner surface 15 of the tube 2 to maintain this pressure while inserting the drawing wire 6a. .

The apparatus is adapted for the following uses, described according to the arrangements of Fig. 1. The operator selects the tube 2 into which the draw wire 6a is to be inserted. Very often, the pipes in the field contain water and debris, which must be removed as much as possible. If the tube is empty, a pellet 23 can be used instead of the shuttle 6 because it pushes water and dirt ahead of it as it passes through the tube. The shuttle 6 may be used if the pipe into which the draw wire is to be inserted is partially filled with cables or is empty. The shuttle 6 may remove some debris to some extent, but the lamellar or air collectors 24 on the shuttle 6 tend to adapt to the inner circumference of the tube under air pressure and are generally not rigid enough to push the debris in front of the shuttle. If there are already cables in the pipe, the cross-section of the pipe may be uneven, and in this case the air collectors may move over the uneven cross-section. Thus, depending on the condition of the tube (i.e., the empty tube or the tube partially filled with cables), the operator can select either the pellet 23 or the shuttle 6 to receive the pull wire.

When a pellet is used, the draw wire 6a is attached to it with its insertion end 6b. In carrying out the method of the invention, the lead-in end 6b of the drawing wire 6a is first fed into the inlet opening 3b of the manifold body 3a. The lead-in end 6b is then attached to the shuttle 6 or to the pellet 23. Then, the manifold 3 is fastened to the end of the tube 2, while the draw wire 6a is pulled back through the manifold 3 to remove the unwanted section of the draw wire 6a. When the manifold 3 is fixed, the sealing device 4 is inserted into the tube 2 and then inflated, then sealing the tube 2 as described above. When the valve is 12 ♦ *

10 closed, the distributor piece 3 is securely held in position. The compressed air is then supplied to the pipe by further adjusting the valve 12, whereupon the pellet 23 or shuttle 6 is driven along the entire length of the pipe 2 until they are ejected from the pipe, carrying the drawing wire 6a. compressed air escapes from inside the diaphragm 14. The trailing end of the drawing wire 6a is then withdrawn from the splitter 3, and is ready for attachment to the cable to be passed through the tube 2.

The described device can also be used to feed a drawing wire from a device known as a device comprising a coil of lines fed into a pipe.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (27)

Apparatus for inserting an extension wire in and over the entire length of a pipe from its inlet end to its outlet end by means of compressed air, characterized in that it consists of a source of compressed air, of a sealing device for sealing said pipe, with the possibility of supplying compressed air from a source of compressed air into the pipe through or around said sealing apparatus, from a through opening in or on the sealing apparatus for introducing a drawing wire, wherein at engagement of the sealing apparatus with the inlet end of the pipe, the drawing wire is arranged to be introduced into the sealing harness outside or inside the pipe and an outlet of the apparatus within said tube, of a shuttle connected to the leading end of the drawing wire in response to an air supply from a compressed air source arranged to carry the drawing wire along the entire length of the pipes y to the outlet of the outlet end of the pipe. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the source of compressed air is connected directly or indirectly to the sealing device. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that a distributor piece is provided between the compressed air source and the sealing device for supplying the compressed air to the sealing device, The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the manifold is configured to control the supply of compressed air to the sealing device. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sealing device is an elongate tubular body comprising an outer membrane forming an inflatable shell. • · flflflfl flflflfl flflflfl flflflfl flflfl flflfl flfl flflfl flfl flflflflf - 12 The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the membrane forming the inflatable sheath is configured in response to compressed air, with the possibility of being compressed against the inner wall of said pipe to effect a sealing connection between the sheath and the pipe. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the diaphragm is fixed to both ends of the tubular body by clamps, one of these clamps being connected to a connecting part in which the manifold is received. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the manifold is provided with at least one air inlet, one air outlet and a control valve for lowering the air flow and for expelling the air. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the control valve is displaceable between the first, closed position, to prevent the air supply to the manifold, between the second, open position, to supply air into said housing between the third, open position. a position for supplying air to said tube and between a fourth, open position for discharging air from the manifold, from the tube and from the housing. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the manifold is provided with couplings at two inlet openings for supplying air from the air supply ducts connected to the source of compressed air. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the distributor box is further provided with a connector at an outlet engaging the sealing device. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the manifold is further provided with a pressure gauge. ·· »« - 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it is provided with a shuttle having an elongate shaft around which at least one inflatable air collector is arranged radially. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the air collector is provided with either a sheath whose tapered central portion is attached to the shank and whose free end is radially distributed in response to air pressure, or a series of air collectors. of cells arranged radially around this shaft. 15. A sealing device for a device for inserting an extension wire into a pipe, characterized in that it is formed by an elongated tubular body about which a flexible membrane is arranged, fixed at its two ends and forming an inflatable sheath. 16. The sealing device of claim 15, wherein the membrane forming said jacket is arranged in response to compressed air to be compressed against an inner wall of said spout to effect a sealing connection between the jacket and the pipe. 17. Sealing device according to claim 16, characterized in that the diaphragm is fastened by clamps to both ends of the tubular body, one of these clamps being connected to a connecting piece in which the manifold is received and held. A manifold for a device for inserting an extension wire into a pipe, characterized in that it comprises at least one air inlet, one air outlet and a control valve. 19. The manifold of claim 18, wherein the control valve is displaceable between a first, closed position for: - 14 preventing air supply to the manifold, between the second, open position, for supplying air to the housing, between the third, open position, for supplying air to said tube, and between the fourth, open position, for expelling air from the manifold, from the tube and from the cloak. Distributor piece according to claim 19, characterized in that the distributor piece is provided with couplings at two inlet openings, for supplying air from the air supply ducts connected to the source of compressed air. 21. The manifold of claim 20, wherein the manifold is provided with a connector at the outlet engaging the sealing device. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a manometer. 23. A method of inserting an extension wire inside and along the entire length of a pipe using a device comprising a pressurized air source, a sealing device for sealing said pipe, with the possibility of supplying compressed air from the compressed air source to said pipe around or around said sealing device. a through hole in or on the sealing device for receiving the drawing wire, wherein, when the sealing device is engaged with the inlet end of the spout, the drawing wire is arranged to be introduced into the sealing device outside or inside the pipe and a drawing wire in response to an air supply from a source of compressed air arranged to carry the drawing wire along the entire length of the pipe up to the outlet of the outlet end of the pipe, characterized in that a) insert the free end of the wire through the through hole into a sealing device arranged to seal one end of the pipe; - 15 ·· »0 • 0 · * 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 b) the free end of the wire is attached to the shuttle and the shuttle is inserted into the inlet end of the pipe, c) further sealing the inlet end of the pipe with a sealing device, d) the compressed air is then introduced around the sealing device into the pipe, behind the sealing device and in front of the shuttle; (e) further inflating the air jacket of the sealing device so that the casing comes into contact with the inner surface of the tube and seals the tube; and f) Finally, sufficient air pressure is applied to move the shuttle along the entire length of the tube until it is ejected from the tube, carrying the pull wire. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the draw wire is further pulled back to remove any slack in the draw wire between the sealing device and the shuttle. 25. A method of inserting a drawing wire into a pipe using a device comprising a source of compressed air, a sealing apparatus for sealing one end of a pipe which is directly or indirectly connected to a source of compressed air, from a shuttle connected to the drawing wire in response to compressed air, characterized in that: a) insert the free end of the wire through the through hole into the sealing device, b) further fastening the shuttle to the free end of the draw wire and inserting the shuttle into the inlet end of the pipe; c) further inserting the sealing device into the inlet end of the pipe, after its connection to the manifold controlling the air flow into the sealing device and the pipe, d) further sealing the inlet end of the pipe by adjusting the control valve on the manifold to inflate the housing of the sealing device and fl; 16e) finally, a control valve is set up which supplies compressed air to the inlet end of the tube, which moves the shuttle along the entire length of the tube, until it is ejected from the tube, carrying the drawing wire. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising adjusting the control valve to deflate said housing to release the sealing device from the tube. 27. A device for cleaning the inside of a pipe, using a scrubber, such as a pellet, comprising a source of pressurized air, a sealing device for sealing the inlet end of said pipe, and comprising an inflatable housing configured to receive air from a pressurized source. air, to push the pellet through the pipe, after it is introduced into the pipe and the inlet end is sealed with a sealing device.